Acoustic wall construction



July 12 1927- LITTLE ACOUSTIC WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan.6, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1,635,796 y 1927' s. P. LITTL ACOUSTIC WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan.6. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fla-6 Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ACOUSTIC WALL CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed January This invention relates to interior wall or ceiling facings that are particularly adapted to absorb sound to prevent reflection, reverberation. echoing or focusing. It is further contei'ni'ilat'ed that the arrangement be of such nature that it be pleasing to the eye. and adapted to be formed in accord with a number of surface designs.

An object of this invention is to provide a construction that can be economically made and built in such sizes and shapes that it can be readily handled and applied to a wall or ceiling. In carrying out this object, I pros pose to build up complete panel units which expose sound absorbent material on their surfaces, the sound absorbent material being placed or exposed in spaces between ribs which maybe arranged in any symmetrical design. By making the design one of symmetry, it is possible to cut and fit panels to the irregularities of openings in the wall surface, and to fit the panels to each other so that the whole may present a regular and pleasing design. Another more specific object of my invention, particularly where a large surface is to be covered, is to provide means on the abutting edges of the several panels to more firmly hold the panels to gether and preferably by interlocking action to prevent any tendency of the panels to pull apart and expose cracks in the finished surface. Preferred constructions for carrying out my invention are hereinafter more fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings. which show several embodiments, while the essential features are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a portion of a wall surface with my panels attached thereto abutting a door opening, and with the ribs constituting a diagonal design; Fig. 2 is a plan view of one complete panel; Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view of Fig. 2 taken along the line 33; Fig. 4 is a perspective view otpart of a panel showing the ribs integral with the base portion; Fig. 5 includes separate perspective views of independent rib, base, and sound absorbent, showing a modified construction of the sound absorb- 60 ing material;' Fig. 6 shows the separate rib and base portion joined together with the sound absorbing material placed in some of the spaces providedfor it; Fig.-7 shows a cross-section of the arrangement shown in 6, 1926. Serial No. 79,528.

Fig. 5: Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the 5 panel interlocking means; Fig. 9 is an optional design of ribs that may be adapted to secure another artistic effect.

I have shown my invention comprising a base panel 1 of suitable material and ribs 2. The base member maybe made of material, such as wood. asbestos wood. wall board, or composition board. The ribs may be of similar material when made inte ral with the base member, or if the ribs ant base are fl5 to be made separately, the ribs may be made of the most suitable material while the base may be made of any other material that 18 most suitable to its purpose. The ribs 2 whether formed integral with the base or made separately may be arranged in any geometrical design so that the several panels may abut and present a symmetrical design over the whole wall surface to be covered. I take pieces of felt or other suitable sound absorbing material 3 and cut it to fit into i the particular pattern described by the arrangement of the ribs, and firmly fasten it to the base member between the ribs as shown. This may he done as is most expedient either by nailing or gluing as the economy or beauty of thetsituation demands. The material 3 may be of such a nature that a pleasing effect will be obtained either with or without painting. Referring to the modifled arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 7, a piece of sound absorbing material 4' may cover the same area as the base panel. Then the rib structure 2 may be placed over the layer of sound absorbent material and the whole assembled into one panel, a crosssection of which is shown in-Fi 7. An inter-panel locking means (see ig. 8) isshown in the form of a dove tail joint. It is preferred that this joint be built at the point on the edge of the panel where the ribs intersect and join the ribs of the adjacent panel. Thus on any one edge of a panel at a point as above set forth may be provided the tenon 5, and on the opposite edge of the panel may be provided the indenture 6, so that the panels may be joined to each other as shown. I

I have foundthat my arrangement gives an economical and pleasing result in that the separate panels may be completely assembled before being sent to the place of application, and that by using a geometries. do-

sign of rib structure the panels may be matched to each other and fitted to the irregularities of the room openings.

I claim:

1. In an acoustic panel unit, the combination of a base member, a rib structure, and sound absorbent material, with interlockin means disposed on the edge of the pane adapted to comprise dove-tail joints with an adjoining panel.

2. In an acoustic panel, the combination of a base member, sound absorbent material secured thereon and interlocking means at the edges of the panel comprising .projections on the one side and recesses on the contiguous panel receiving the projections.

3. In an acoustic panel, the combination of a base member, a rib structure, secured to the panel and adapted to meet similar ribs on adjacent panels, and means for securing the edges of the panels together at the meeting ends of the rib structures.

4. An acoustic panel unit comprising a base member, a rib structure fixed thereto, and sound absorbent material fixed to the base member, lying in the spaces between the ribs of even height therewith so that the ribs and sound absorbent material present a substantially flat surface.

5. An acoustic panel unit comprising a base member, a rib structure raised on the base member, said rib structure arranged to form a. geometric pattern adapted to fit in symmetry with the same attern on an adjoining panel unit, soun absorbing material fixed to the base member, disposed between the ribs of the rib structure and comprising a substantially fiat surface with the .ribs.

6. An acoustic panel unit comprisin a base member, sound absorbin materia, a rib structure of geometric design with the ribs uniformly intersected at the edge of the panel unit and panel interlocking means comprising a dove-tail joint on the edge of the panel at a point where the rib design intersects the edge wherein one edge of the panel offers the tenons and theopposite edge ofl'ers the indentures of the joint.

7. In an acoustic panel, thev combination of a base member, a rib structure raised on the base member and adapted to meet similar ribs in adjacent panels, and means for centering or aligning the meeting ends of the ribs with complementary ends on adjacent panels.

8. An acoustic wall surfacing panel comprising a base member, a rib structure raised on said base member and providing a sym' metrical design. and units of sound absorbent material fixedv to the base member and disposed between the ribs. said panel carrying a plurality of sound absorbent units and being built up as a removable and transportable structure adapted to be secured to a wall surface.

9. A removable acoustic panel comprising a unit adapted to be aflixed to a wall to form the surface thereof, said panel comprising a base having raised ribs thereon and sound absorbent material secured thereto in depressions defined by the ribs, each panel comprising a unit having a plurality of such depressions and being of a size convenient for handling and shipping.

10. A removable Wall surfacing acoustic panel unit comprising a base member, a rib structure raised thereon, and sound absorbent material exposed in the spaces between the ribs. I

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

GEORGE P. LITTLE. 

